The Buchanan Board of Education may deserve an A for effort but an Incomplete when it comes to results in approving a new budget for the 2019-2020 school year.

The board adopted Monday a proposed budget for the 2019-2020 school year that leaves more than a quarter of a million dollar hole in the coffers without a clear roadmap to overcome it.

With a total revenue of $16,250,731 and a total expenditure of $16,525,854, the proposed budget projects the district would have a deficit of $275,123.

This is disappointing, and the district must do better.

If you were looking for a silver lining, it would be that the budget was initially proposed at the board of education’s June 4 meeting, with a deficit of $432,000. However, the board recommended that Superintendent Timothy Donahue and his team rework the proposal to adhere to district policy, which is for the fund balance to be no less than 16.7 percent of revenue or no less than two months of expenditures.

The difference in the deficits will impact the budget for basic programming, which can include programs at all levels, including the Great Start Readiness Program and Career Technical Education, as well as staff wages, substitute teachers and teaching supplies.

Now, exactly where those cuts will be made is up in the air. The administration will be meeting in the coming weeks to decide where reductions and savings can be found.

This uncertainty is not good for the district or the community.

We understand the district is in a tough place and that hard decisions must be made. We also appreciate the board’s work to maintain a responsible fund balance. However, we urge the administration to make these cuts quickly and transparently, in a way that minimizes the impact to students and teachers.

We often hear glowing recommendations from parents and students about Buchanan Community Schools. Just earlier this month, one graduating senior was brought to tears during her graduation speech because the school district had done so much for her. We want to continue to see and hear these wonderful things about Buchanan schools, but worry that a rushed approach to cutting programming or staff will have a negative impact on the quality of education.

As discussions about budget cuts go forward, we urge the leadership at Buchanan Community Schools to keep in mind its goal of caring for its students and to do its best to do right by them and the staff when choosing where to make cuts.

Opinions expressed are those of general manager Ambrosia Neldon, managing editor Sarah Culton and sports editor Scott Novak.